Richardson, TX Building Permit Fees (2026)
Actual residential building permit fees from the City of Richardson Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective October 1, 2015). Richardson is a Dallas County and Collin County city in the DFW metroplex, sitting between Dallas and Plano along US-75. Verified directly against the city's published fee schedule. Because the schedule carries a 2015 effective date, confirm current amounts with Building Inspection before budgeting.
This page covers: The residential building permit fees in Richardson. A new single-family dwelling is a flat $1,200; a swimming pool is $200; a spa, hot tub, or above-ground pool is $100; a residential fence is $30; a detached building over 150 sq ft is $100 (or $50 at 150 sq ft or less); a concrete permit, demolition, temporary building, reinspection, or miscellaneous residential permit is $50; a residential antenna is $30; and a moving permit is $75. Additions, alterations, repairs, and remodeling are 1.00% of the actual total market value of the work, with a $50 residential minimum, not to exceed the $1,200 new-structure fee. Roof recovering is 1.00% of market value with a $100 residential minimum. Each figure is exact from the City of Richardson Building Permit Fee Schedule.
Important note on fee schedule age: The Building Permit Fee Schedule published by Richardson carries an effective date of October 1, 2015 - roughly eleven years old at the time of writing. It is the version the city currently publishes, but confirm the current amounts with Richardson Building Inspection (972-744-4164) before relying on any figure.
New construction is fully bundled: Per the schedule's note, a new building permit "includes all fees for the building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and concrete work." A new single-family dwelling and a duplex are each a flat $1,200 (priced by building area / flat, not valuation), and multi-family is $500 per unit. There is no separate MEP add-on for a new home under this schedule.
Texas has no statewide levy: Texas adds no statewide percentage building-permit levy, and Richardson adds no residential percentage surcharge on the flat permits. Note that double fees may apply when work starts before the permit is issued.
This page does NOT cover: Fire-protection systems, which are permitted separately through the Richardson Fire Marshal's Office (972-744-5750); impact and utility fees, which are not on this building permit fee schedule; and commercial permits. Solar is not a named residential line item on this schedule - it would fall under a miscellaneous residential permit ($50); confirm the classification with Building Inspection before quoting.
In Richardson, TX a new single-family home carries a flat $1,200 building permit that bundles the building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and concrete work - the same regardless of house size. Additions and remodels are 1.00% of the market value of the work, with a $50 residential minimum, capped at the $1,200 new-structure fee, so a $30,000 remodel is $300. A swimming pool is $200, a spa or above-ground pool is $100, and a residential fence is $30. Texas has no statewide levy, and the schedule carries a 2015 effective date - verify current amounts.
- A new single-family dwelling is a flat $1,200 building permit that, per the schedule note, includes all fees for the building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and concrete work. A duplex is also $1,200, and multi-family is $500 per dwelling unit. New construction is priced by building area / flat, not by valuation.
- Additions, alterations, repairs, and remodeling are 1.00% of the actual total market value of the work, with a $50 residential minimum, and the fee is not to exceed the $1,200 new-structure permit. So a $30,000 remodel is 1.00% x $30,000 = $300.
- Roof recovering is 1.00% of market value with a $100 residential minimum. A swimming pool is $200; a spa, hot tub, or above-ground pool is $100; a residential fence is $30; a residential antenna is $30.
- Many small projects are flat: a detached building over 150 sq ft is $100 ($50 at 150 sq ft or less), and a concrete permit, demolition, temporary building, reinspection, or miscellaneous residential permit is $50. A moving permit is $75, contractor registration is $100, and a certificate of occupancy when no building permit was issued is $100 (no fee when work is done under a building permit).
- The fees come from the City of Richardson Building Permit Fee Schedule effective October 1, 2015 - about eleven years old, so confirm current amounts with Building Inspection. Fire-protection systems (Richardson Fire Marshal), impact/utility fees, and commercial permits are separate and NOT included here. Texas has no statewide levy, but double fees may apply when work starts before the permit is issued.
Richardson Building Permit Fee Structure
Richardson prices new construction as a flat per-unit fee that bundles all trades and concrete, additions and remodels as a percentage of the market value of the work, and most other residential projects as flat per-type fees. There is no residential percentage surcharge. The tables below show the verified figures exactly as published in the City of Richardson Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective October 1, 2015).
New construction & additions
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| New single-family dwelling - building permit (all trades + concrete included) | $1,200.00 |
| Duplex - building permit (all trades + concrete included) | $1,200.00 |
| Multi-family - building permit (per dwelling unit) | $500.00 / unit |
| Addition / alteration / repair / remodeling | 1.00% of market value ($50.00 min, not over $1,200.00) |
| Roof recovering (re-roof) | 1.00% of market value ($100.00 min) |
Per the schedule's note, a new building permit "includes all fees for the building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and concrete work," so no separate MEP permits are added for a new dwelling. New construction is priced by building area / flat, not by valuation. Addition and remodeling fees are calculated on the actual total market value of the work; the residential minimum is $50 and the fee is capped at the $1,200 new-structure permit. Double fees may apply when work starts before the permit is issued.
Flat residential permit fees
| Permit | Fee |
|---|---|
| Swimming pool (in-ground) | $200.00 |
| Spa / hot tub / above-ground pool | $100.00 |
| Fence (residential) | $30.00 |
| Detached building / structure - over 150 sq ft | $100.00 |
| Detached building / structure - 150 sq ft or less | $50.00 |
| Concrete permit | $50.00 |
| Antenna (residential) | $30.00 |
| Miscellaneous permit (residential) | $50.00 |
| Demolition | $50.00 |
| Moving permit | $75.00 |
| Temporary building | $50.00 |
| Reinspection | $50.00 |
| Certificate of occupancy (no building permit issued) | $100.00 |
| Contractor registration | $100.00 |
The certificate of occupancy fee applies only when no building permit was issued; there is no CO fee when the work is done under a building permit. Solar is not a named line item on the residential schedule; a rooftop solar array would fall under a miscellaneous residential permit at $50 - confirm the classification with Building Inspection before quoting. Fire-protection systems are permitted separately through the Richardson Fire Marshal's Office (972-744-5750) and are not shown here.
Richardson Permit Fee Components
For a new home the Richardson building permit is a single flat fee that already includes every trade and the concrete work - there is no per-trade add-on and no percentage surcharge. Additions and remodels are a straight 1.00% of the market value of the work. The table below breaks down where each dollar comes from.
| Component | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|
| New-dwelling building permit | $1,200 flat (all trades + concrete) | Exact schedule figure; includes building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and concrete work |
| Addition / alteration / remodel | 1.00% of market value | $50 residential minimum; capped at the $1,200 new-structure fee |
| Residential percentage surcharge / state levy | $0.00 | None - Texas has no statewide levy; Richardson adds no residential surcharge |
| Double fees (work started before permit) | 2x the permit fee | Applies when work begins before the permit is issued |
| Fire-protection systems | Separate | Permitted through the Richardson Fire Marshal's Office (972-744-5750) |
| Impact / utility fees | Separate schedules | Excluded - not on this building permit fee schedule |
For a new home, the $1,200 permit is the whole building-permit cost with no surcharge and no separate trade permits. For a remodel, multiply the market value of the work by 1.00%, but never pay below the $50 residential minimum or above the $1,200 cap. Fire, impact, and utility fees are separate and not in any figure here.
Worked Examples
Every figure below is direct from the City of Richardson Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective October 1, 2015). Flat fees and the 1.00% remodel rate produce exact totals. Fire-protection, impact, and utility fees are separate and not included.
Example 1: New Single-Family Home
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| New-dwelling building permit (all trades + concrete) | flat, per unit | $1,200.00 |
| New-home permit total (exact) | flat fee, all trades bundled | $1,200.00 |
Assumptions: A new single-family dwelling is a flat $1,200.00 building permit that, per the schedule note, includes all fees for the building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and concrete work. The fee is the same regardless of the size of the home because it is priced by building area / flat, not by valuation. A duplex is also $1,200.00; multi-family is $500.00 per unit. Impact, utility, and fire-protection fees are separate. Source: City of Richardson Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective October 1, 2015).
Example 2: $30,000 Remodel
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Remodel building permit | 1.00% × $30,000 | $300.00 |
| Remodel permit total (exact) | 1.00% of value, $50 min, $1,200 cap | $300.00 |
Assumptions: An addition, alteration, repair, or remodel is 1.00% of the actual total market value of the work. A $30,000 remodel computes to 1.00% × $30,000 = $300.00 - above the $50 residential minimum and below the $1,200 new-structure cap. Any remodel valued below $5,000 still pays the $50 minimum, and no addition/remodel permit exceeds $1,200. Source: City of Richardson Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective October 1, 2015).
Example 3: Swimming Pool
| Fee Component | Rule Applied | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Swimming pool permit | flat | $200.00 |
| Pool permit total (exact) | flat fee | $200.00 |
Assumptions: A swimming pool is a flat $200.00 permit. A spa, hot tub, or above-ground pool is instead $100.00. Pool electrical bonding and any required barrier/fence work may draw a separate permit; a residential fence is $30.00. Source: City of Richardson Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective October 1, 2015).
Example 4: Flat-Fee Projects - Fence, Detached Building, Demolition, Spa
| Project | Rule Applied | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Fence (residential) | flat | $30.00 |
| Detached building over 150 sq ft | flat | $100.00 |
| Demolition | flat | $50.00 |
| Spa / hot tub | flat | $100.00 |
Assumptions: Each of these is a flat permit fee with no residential surcharge, so the figures are exact: fence $30.00, detached building over 150 sq ft $100.00 (or $50.00 at 150 sq ft or less), demolition $50.00, and spa/hot tub $100.00. A swimming pool is $200.00. Source: City of Richardson Building Permit Fee Schedule (effective October 1, 2015).
Read before you budget from these examples
- Source age: the schedule carries an October 1, 2015 effective date - about eleven years old. Confirm current amounts with Building Inspection before relying on any figure.
- New home is fully bundled: the $1,200 permit includes the building, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and concrete work, and is the same regardless of house size.
- Remodels are 1.00% of value: multiply the market value of the work by 1.00%, but never below the $50 residential minimum or above the $1,200 cap.
- Flat fees are the whole permit cost: for a fence ($30), pool ($200), spa ($100), or demolition ($50), the printed fee is the entire building-permit charge with no surcharge.
- Excluded fees: fire-protection systems, impact fees, and water/sewer utility fees are separate and not in any figure above. Double fees may apply if work starts before the permit is issued.
Practitioner Insight
Richardson is one of the easiest DFW cities to budget a new home in: the building permit is a flat $1,200 that already bundles every trade and the concrete work, so there is no per-square-foot math and no separate electrical, plumbing, or mechanical permit to add. That puts Richardson in the same flat new-home family as Grand Prairie, which also bundles a new home into a flat fee - and it contrasts with per-square-foot and valuation metros like Dallas and Plano, where a large new build can cost far more to permit.
Two cautions. First, the schedule carries a 2015 effective date, so it is worth a quick call to Building Inspection (972-744-4164) to confirm the amounts are still current before you file - it is about eleven years old. Second, remember that the $1,200 building permit does not cover everything on a new build: fire-protection systems are permitted separately through the Fire Marshal's Office, and impact and utility fees are on separate schedules. For a remodel, the 1.00%-of-value rule is simple, but watch the $50 floor and the $1,200 ceiling.
Permit Requirements - Common Residential Projects in Richardson
| Project Type | Permit Required? | Fee Category | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| New single-family home | Yes | $1,200 flat | All trades + concrete bundled; same regardless of size |
| Addition / remodel | Yes | 1.00% of value | $50 min, $1,200 cap; $30,000 remodel = $300 |
| Swimming pool | Yes | $200 flat | Spa / hot tub / above-ground pool is $100 |
| Fence | Yes | $30 flat | Residential fence permit |
| Detached building / shed | Yes | $50 / $100 | $50 at 150 SF or less; $100 over 150 SF |
| Roof recovering (re-roof) | Yes | 1.00% of value | $100 residential minimum |
| Demolition | Yes | $50 flat | Same $50 as concrete, temp building, reinspection |
| Fire-protection system | Yes | Separate | Permitted via Fire Marshal (972-744-5750), not this schedule |
Permit trigger thresholds and project-classification determinations (which square footage counts, whether a project is an addition vs. an alteration, and how market value is established) are set by the City of Richardson Building Inspection division. When uncertain whether a permit is required, contact Building Inspection before starting work - and note that double fees may apply if work begins before the permit is issued.
City of Richardson Building Inspection
Building Inspection
City of Richardson, Dallas & Collin County, Texas · 972-744-4164
Richardson Fire Marshal's Office
Fire-protection systems are permitted separately · 972-744-5750
Building Permit Fee Schedule
Effective October 1, 2015 - confirm current amounts before filing
When This Estimate May Not Apply
The schedule carries a 2015 effective date
The published Building Permit Fee Schedule is effective October 1, 2015 - about eleven years old. It is the version the city currently publishes, but a fee could have changed since. Confirm current amounts with Building Inspection before filing.
Your project needs a fire-protection system
Fire sprinkler and alarm systems are permitted separately through the Richardson Fire Marshal's Office (972-744-5750) and are not part of the building permit fees on this page.
Your project is commercial, not residential
The residential minimums and residential line items on this page (fence $30, miscellaneous $50, roof recovering $100 minimum) are for residential work. Commercial permits use different minimums and classifications - confirm with Building Inspection.
Work started before the permit was issued
Double fees may apply when work begins before the permit is issued. If your project has already started, the figures on this page could be doubled - confirm with Building Inspection.
Impact and utility fees apply to a new build
Impact fees and water/sewer utility fees are separate site charges NOT on this building permit fee schedule and can far exceed the building permit on a new home.
Source note: All figures come from the City of Richardson Building Permit Fee Schedule, effective October 1, 2015, published by the Community Services Department and retrieved from the city's document center. This page states "effective October 1, 2015" as printed on the schedule. Fire-protection system permits (Fire Marshal's Office), impact fees, and water/sewer utility fees are not on this schedule and are not used here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sources
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City of Richardson - Building Permit Fee Schedule (Effective Oct 1, 2015) Richardson, TX - official building permit fee schedule, effective October 1, 2015. Primary source for the flat new-home fee, the 1.00% addition/remodel rate, and every flat permit fee on this page 2015 - verify current
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City of Richardson - official city website City site linking the Community Services Department, Building Inspection (972-744-4164), and the Fire Marshal's Office (972-744-5750). Verified July 2026.
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Texas Local Government Code, Chapter 214 (statutes.capitol.texas.gov) Texas .gov statutory context: Texas municipalities regulate building construction and adopt their own permit fee schedules by ordinance, and Texas imposes no statewide building-permit levy - which is why the Richardson schedule is the whole permit cost. Verified July 2026.
See how Richardson's flat new-home fee compares to the other DFW cities, or estimate fees in covered jurisdictions.
Permit Fees Are One Part of Your Project Budget
Once you know your Richardson permit cost, two related numbers round out your total budget picture:
Property tax impact after your project closes
A permitted addition or pool increases your assessed value in Dallas or Collin County. A permitted project may change the property's taxable value. The county appraisal district determines that value and local taxing units adopt the rates, both separately from this permit fee.
Impact and utility fees for larger projects
Impact fees and water/sewer utility fees in Richardson are separate from the building permit. These items are governed by fee schedules separate from the building permit and are not included in the figures above.
These charges are administered separately from the building permit fee, though the responsible office and billing process vary by jurisdiction. See which tool covers each charge →